The Cheltenham Lowdown

20 January 2017

Paul Rowse

THE LCI Rail Stadium is the destination for Argyle this Saturday, and recent history gives the Green Army plenty of reason to be optimistic when facing Cheltenham Town…

Argyle are undefeated in their last six meetings with Cheltenham. In that time the Greens have scored 16 goals, to Cheltenham’s six. The two teams have met 20 times in total, with the Pilgrims fairing the better overall. Ten wins and 4 draws is enough to make any Green gleam.

Three has been the magic number when Argyle visit Cheltenham in recent times. The last three visits to Gloucestershire have seen Argyle score three goals each time. Marvin Morgan, Conor Hourihane and Rommy Boco all notched in an early-season 3-1 win in 2013; later that season, Boco scored again, as did Lewis Alessandra and a debuting Hamza Bencherif, as the sides drew 3-3. Argyle would go on to win the penalty shoot-out.

Last time Argyle were there, they swept to a 3-0 win, with a Reuben Reid double and a debut goal for Zak Ansah seeing the Pilgrims home.

Strong defensive performances mean Argyle have maintained three clean sheets in their last three games facing Cheltenham, and a strong back line will be planning to make it four this coming Saturday.

Derek Adams’ men have already seen off Cheltenham once this season, courtesy of a 1-0 win at Home Park. A stoppage time winner from Sonny Bradley was the difference on the day, and enough to push The Greens into an automatic promotion place for the first time this season.

Argyle will go into the game on the back off the highly-anticipated Emirates FA Cup third round replay against Liverpool, but all attention will now be on the league and pursuing a promotion push come the weekend.

Cheltenham are currently sat 20 places below Argyle in, but will be looking to grab a result after their impressive 3-0 win against Accrington last Saturday.

One of those goals was scored by Billy Waters; the Robins midfielder is their top goalscorer, with 11 goals.